The Star Village Achi Visitor Promotion Council (Chairman: Kumagai Hideki (Mayor of Achi Village)), located in Achi Village, Nagano Prefecture, known for Japan's best starry sky, will be holding the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2021 in Achi - Japan's Best Starry Sky Film Festival - from August 8th to August 16th, 2021, at Fujimidai Kogen Ropeway Heavens Sonohara, the venue for the Heavenly Paradise Night Tour, and Hirugami Onsen, where you can enjoy Japan's best starry sky and short films.

【Event Overview】

■Event Name
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2021 in Achi -Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Film Festival-
(SSFF & ASIA 2021 in ACHI -Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Film Festival-)
■Event Dates
Sunday, August 8, 2021 - Monday, August 16, 2021
■Event Time
Screening times vary by venue
■Venue
1: Heavenly Paradise Night Tour Venue [Fujimidai Kogen Ropeway Heavens Sonohara]
/> 2: Hirugami Onsen Venue [Hirugami Kiosk]
■Price
Prices vary depending on the venue
■Organizer
Star Village Achi Tourist Promotion Council
■Planning and Supervision
Short Shorts Executive Committee
■Special Cooperation
Achi☆Hirugami Tourism Bureau / Jay Mountains Central
■Inquiries
Achi☆Hirugami Tourism Bureau 0265-43-3001 (9:00-17:30)
■Website
http://info.sva.jp/shortshorts2021/

Achi Village, which was recognized as the number one "place suitable for stargazing" (2006) in the nationwide stargazing observation survey conducted by the Ministry of the Environment, is hosting the "Paradise in the Sky Night Tour," "Paradise in the Sky Sea Harbor," and "Paradise in the Sky Night Tour," all of which are held at Fujimidai Kogen Ropeway Heavens Sonohara. We have been working to create events and places where people can gaze up at the starry sky, such as the "Winter Night Tour" and "Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Namiai Park," which opened in July 2018.

The "Heavenly Paradise Night Tour," which began in 2012, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, supported by many customers, local residents, and partners. This year, marking its 10th anniversary, we will be holding a number of events and campaigns for people to enjoy under the starry sky. This village, home to Japan's No. 1 starry sky, hosted the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2019 in Achi - Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Film Festival - in July of last year, the No. 1 Starry Sky Short Film Festival by ShortShorts in September, and the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2020 in Achi - Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Film Festival - last year, with over 26,000 visitors attending and enjoying the short films.

And this year, as a special event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Paradise in the Sky Night Tour, the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2021 in Achi - Japan's No. 1 starry sky film festival - has been decided to be held. Enjoy a luxurious time under the stars and with the music of high-quality films.

【Heavenly Paradise Night Tour Venue Overview】

■Dates
August 8, 2021 (Sun) - August 16, 2021 (Mon)
■Times
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM Gondola Upbound
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Film Screening 1 (approx. 60 minutes)
8:00 PM - 8:15 PM Constellation Commentary (The lights in the venue will be turned off from 8:00 PM - 8:30 PM.)
8:15 PM - 9:00 PM Film screening 2. Approximately 45 minutes
Downward gondola operation begins from 20:30
■Venue
Fujimidai Kogen Ropeway Heavens Sonohara
3731-4 Chisato, Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture 395-0304
■Price
Adults and high school students: 3,200 yen, elementary and junior high school students: 1,600 yen, infants: free
*Gondola ride fare included
*The gondola ride is approximately 15 minutes one way. If you plan to watch from 19:00, we recommend a ticket for the 17:00-18:30 period.
■How to make a reservation
◆Online tickets (date and time specified, advance reservation required)
On sale from 10am two weeks prior to the date of use
◆For guests staying at Paradise in the Sky official hotels and inns
Tickets can be reserved not just two weeks in advance
Please make your reservation directly with the affiliated hotels and inns, or through your local travel agency or accommodation reservation site.

【Hirugami Onsen Venue Overview】

■Dates
Sunday, August 8, 2021 - Monday, August 16, 2021
■Time
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
■Venue
Hirugami Kiosk
347-1 Hirugami, Chiri, Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture 395-0304
■Price
One order required, free viewing
*Free viewing for those who order a drink or dessert at the cafe.

COVID-19 Infection Prevention Measures

During the SSFF & ASIA 2021 in ACHI - Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Film Festival -, we will be taking infection prevention measures to ensure the safety of our guests and employees.
I. Employees will be required to wear masks or face shields.
II. Employees will be required to wash their hands (approximately 30 seconds) as appropriate.
III. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be provided throughout the venue for guests.
IV. Strengthened facility disinfection (regular disinfection of handrails, doorknobs, and other areas touched by a large number of people).
V. Employee health management (instruct employees to stay home if they are feeling unwell or have a fever).
VI. Employees will be required to maintain social distancing to avoid crowded, enclosed spaces, and close contact.
◆Request to Guests
Please understand the purpose of preventing the spread of infection and cooperate with the following measures.
I. If you have symptoms such as fever, cough, chills or fatigue, please consult a medical institution before visiting and follow their instructions to receive treatment at a designated medical institution.
II. Please wear a mask to prevent infection.
III. Alcohol-based disinfectant will be available within the facility. Please cooperate with sufficient infection prevention measures.
IV. If you feel unwell during your visit, please do not endure it and immediately speak to a member of staff nearby.
V. If you have symptoms such as fever, you will not be allowed to participate.


Now in its 23rd year, the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA), an international short film festival accredited by the Academy Awards, will be holding a project to consider the "beauty of Japan" together with filmmakers, directors, and writers from Japan and abroad as a project sponsored and co-sponsored by the Japan Expo 2021.

【SSFF & ASIA 2021 in ACHI Japan Expo Special Event Overview】

■Event Dates
The event will be held on several days during the SSFF & ASIA 2021 in ACHI - Japan's No. 1 Starlit Film Festival - from Sunday, August 8, 2021 to Monday, August 16, 2021. The event dates will be announced on our website once they are finalized.
■Event Times
17:30 - 19:30: Gondolas heading up
19:00 - 20:00: Film Screening 1 (approx. 60 minutes)
20:00 - 20:15: Constellation Commentary (The lights in the venue will be turned off from 20:00 - 20:30)
20:15 - 21:00: Film Screening 2 (approx. 45 minutes)
20:30 - Gondolas heading down
■Location
Fujimidai Kogen Ropeway Heavens Sonohara
3731-4 Chisato, Achi Village, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture 395-0304
■Price
Adults and high school students: 3,200 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 1,600 yen
Infants: Free (gondola fare included)
■Other
*The gondola ride takes approximately 15 minutes one way. If you wish to view from 7:00 pm, we recommend purchasing a ticket for 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
■Organizers
Agency for Cultural Affairs/Japan Arts Council
■Planning and Supervision
Star Village Achi Tourism Promotion Council/Pacific Voice Inc.
■Inquiries
Achi☆Hirugami Tourism Bureau 0265-43-3001
■Website
http://info.sva.jp/shortshorts2021/japan-expo/

"SSFF & ASIA 2021 in ACHI" will be held in Achi Village, Nagano Prefecture, which has been certified by the Ministry of the Environment as having "the best starry sky in Japan." In this village, where beautiful nature remains, a short film program featuring "Japanese beauty" from the perspective of female directors, specially selected by SSFF & ASIA, as well as a selection of films from around the world, will be screened.


Message from Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
Director, Bessho Tetsuya
This year marks the third year that the festival has been held in Achi Village. Have you already experienced watching short films under Japan's best starry sky?
We will be presenting the latest short films that have continued to be made even during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on award-winning works that will be announced at SSFF & ASIA 2021 to be held in Tokyo in June. This year, as part of a "Reiwa 3 Japan Expo sponsored and co-sponsored project," we are also planning a special screening of a short film program that depicts the "beauty of Japan" from the perspective of female directors.
Come and enjoy the SSFF & ASIA in Achi Village, where you can experience a hybrid of cinema and starry skies!


What is the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia? ]
Actor Tetsuya Bessho, who is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), founded the American Short Shorts Film Festival in 1999 out of a desire to introduce short films, which he had encountered in the United States, to Japan as a new video genre. In 2001, the name was changed to "Short Shorts Film Festival (SSFF)," and in 2004 it was certified as an official film festival of the Academy Awards. That same year, the Short Shorts Film Festival Asia (co-hosted by SSFF ASIA, Tokyo) was established with the goal of promoting new Asian film culture and nurturing up-and-coming young filmmakers. Currently, the festivals are collectively known as "SSFF & ASIA." To commemorate the festival's 20th anniversary in 2018, the Grand Prix winner was renamed the "George Lucas Award," named after director George Lucas. In January 2019, the Short Shorts Film Festival in Hollywood was held as a 20th anniversary event, and director Jason Reitman, who won the Audience Award at the SSFF in 2001, was presented with an Honorary Award by SSFF & ASIA. Starting with the 2019 festival, up to four films from the Official Competition (International, Asia International, and Japan) and Non-Fiction categories, as well as the Excellence Awards, are eligible for nomination for the following year's Academy Awards in the short film category. Sony Corporation has supported the Official Competition since 2020. SSFF & ASIA will continue to support young creators through the film festival.


Achi Village, Nagano Prefecture
Achi Village is located at the southern tip of Nagano Prefecture, a quiet village nestled in the mountains known for Hirugami Onsen and Hanamomo no Sato. Hirugami Onsen, which first emerged in 1973, is an alkaline simple sulfur spring with a pH of 9.7. Its smooth, viscous waters are like soaking in warm lotion. It's also known as "beautiful skin water" because it leaves your skin feeling silky smooth. Additionally, Achi Village was recognized as the number one "place best suited for stargazing" (2006) in the Ministry of the Environment's nationwide continuous stargazing observation survey.


【Star Village Achi Tourism Promotion Council】
The starry sky of Achi Village was recognized as the number one "place best suited for stargazing" (2006) in the Ministry of the Environment's nationwide continuous stargazing observation survey. Established in 2012 with the aim of utilizing this "number one starry sky in Japan" to revitalize the region and tourism, and attract more visitors. The "Heavenly Paradise: Japan's Number One Starry Sky Night Tour" began on August 1, 2012. "Sea of Clouds & Starry Sky Paradise in the Sky, Unkai Harbor" has been held since October 18, 2014. "Paradise in the Sky Winter Night Tour" has been held since December 3, 2016. As of the end of March 2021, the events have attracted a total of over 850,000 visitors.

2015-2019: Winner of the Domestic/Inbound Regional Management Category Award at the Japan Tourism Awards for five consecutive years
2015: Winner of the Nagano Prefecture Governor's Award at the Shinshu Brand Awards
2017: Winner of the Excellence Award at the Hometown Event Grand Prize
2017: Heavenly Paradise - Japan's No. 1 Starry Sky Night Tour wins the 2017 Good Design Award
2017: Winner of the Environment Minister's Award at the 29th Starry Sky Town/Blue Sky Town
2020: Winner of the Regional Revitalization Minister's Award at the Japan Service Awards

■Star Village Achi Tourist Promotion Council Website http://info.sva.jp/



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